Hot Glue Web Maker

My first web-making machine was a device that fit on a drill to spin fine strands of rubbery material. It was a commercial product, built by Terror By Design.

A few years later, Ghost Ride came out with a commercial web-making machine that used compressed air to throw strands of hot-melt glue. This was soon copied by various companies and individuals.

David threw together a home-made version...

Pictures
Tips
Results

Pictures

Here is the complete hot-melt glue web maker. Most of the modifications can be stuffed inside the plastic shell of the original hot glue gun.

This is the business end. The tube underneath the glue nozzle is the compressed air pipe, made of small diameter copper tubing.

The handle of the gun contains a needle-valve that can be used to control air flow. The usual setting is wide open, which may cause you to ask, "Why bother?" You don't want to run the air all the time, as it cools the tip. Start the air just before the glue, and stop right after the glue stops.

Note the traditional quick-connect for the air line.

Tips

A high wattage gun is your friend: when the webber is in use, the compressed air stream cools down the glue gun a lot. And when the gun cools down, the the glue won't melt and you can't throw webs.

David used an 80 Watt gun, and it is barely adequate. Use nothing smaller, or you will be disappointed.

This Sears #80443 hot glue gun is rated at 215 Watts. This should make a fine webber.

Results

So, how did it work?

For Halloween 2002, we used the hot glue webber to spray the graveyard fence.

David was a little disappointed because there were occasional blobs of glue. This didn't bother Dennis.

The webs were strong and long-lasting.

Afterwards, the glue came off of the painted PVC fence without significant damage.

We had problems with hot-melt glue that got on tombstones; frequently it pulled off paint. This was quite unexpected, because any webs on the tombstones were applied at a greater distance and should have cooled more and been less adhesive.
Next year, no hot glue webs on the tombstones!

On April 11 2006, the CalHaunts group conducted a hot glue web workshop. Numerous web guns were built and tested. In the process, we discovered that the distance and angle of the air line makes a big difference.

David's version is on the left. The one on the right - with the air further away and at an angle - works better!

Thank you for visiting. Your comments are welcome.
. . . . . .